Improvement in gymnastic apparatus



W. C. SHIMONEGK Gymnastic Apparatus.

No. 218,404. Patented Aug 12, 1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIcE.

WILLIAM C. SHIMONEOK, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GYMNASTIC APPARATUS. I'

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,404, dated August12, 1879; application filed June 9, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known thatI, WILLIAM C. SHIMoNEcK, of Washington,in the Districtot' Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Physical Oulture andGymnastic Exercise; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part, of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved apparatus with theparts in position for use, and Fig. 2 a view with the parts securedtogether for transportation or storage.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus to beemployed for physical culture and gymnastic exercises, and it hasspecially for its object to prevent the accidents in vaulting andleaping consequent upon the rigidly-fixed horizontal bars usuallyemployed, and also to provide a means for readily adjusting the bar toanydesired height, and indicating the elevation thereof, to secure theuprights which support the bar upon their base, and to provide forrigidly securing the horizontal bar to its supports when required forother exercise than vaulting or leaping.

To this end the invention consists of two uprights or vertical standardssecured to a suitable base provided with means for fastening it rigidlyto the ground, said uprights being provided with suitable braces tomaintain them rigidly in an upright position, and having graduated ways,upon which are adapted to it movable slides provided with weightedtrip-levers adapted to support the horizontal bar in such manner as torelease the bar when struck by the gymnast and drop it out of his way,and thus avoid tripping him, and at the same time the trip-levers returnto their former places to receive the bar, thus making themself-setting.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates a base ot any suitable material,having'a transverse groove, B, on its upper side, in which is fitted aslide, C, provided with a staple, D, chain E, and pin F, the latter ofwhich may be driven into the ground to hold the base rigidly thereto.The letter G represents two uprights or vertical standards secured inmortises in the base A, and I brace-rods secured to said uprights orstandards, and pointed or sharpened at their4 lower ends, so as tofasten into the base and support the standards in an upright position.The letter K represents a hooked rod pivoted to each upright orstandard, and secured at its lower end to a staple, L, at each end ofthe base, in

order to hold the su orts against anv vertical movement and keep them intheir mortises. The letter M indicates two graduated ways, one on eachof -the uprights or vertical standards, upon which are adapted to iii'-and travel the slides N, which are held in place by means ofspring-pawls O, which bear against the graduated faces of the ways andserve the additional purpose of indicating the elevation of the slidesupon the said graduated faces ot' the ways. To the said slides arepivoted the trip-levers I), which are hooked at one end and weighted atthe other, so that when in a normal position they will hold and supportthe bar R, and when bar It is struck by the gymnast will trip and dropthe bar, and thus prevent accidents, said trip-levers P returning totheir former positions. Said bar R is formed with rectangular ends r,which are adapted to set into mortises or sockets S in uprights orsupports to hold said bar rigidly in position when so required.

The operation of the apparatus is'as follows: When the gymnast, inleaping over the bar supported on the trip-levers, happens to l strikethe same, said levers will give and allow the bar to drop out of theway, thus preventing the gymnast from tripping and injuring himself.

The braces by which the uprights are held in position, in connectionwith the hooked bars for holding the uprights down, it will be observed,will become gradually and more rigidly fastened to the bed should anyoscillation of the uprights occur during exercise.

The slides which carry the trip-levers may be elevated in any suitablemanner; but for the sake of convenience they are provided with rods Textending downwardly within easy reach.

The lower portions of the uprights, below 2. The combination,willithehase .Lof the uprights or standards (l, re|no\'ahl secured I inmortises in the base by means of the bracerodsI and hooked rods K,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In oomhination with the uprights or standards and their graduatedways, the slides carrying' the. Weighted trip-levers for snpportimgr thehorizontal bar R, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this9th day of June, 1879.

WM. C. SHIMONECK.

Witnesses:

Joux ()l)oNNoGHUE, ll..l.l-1NN1s.

